Martin Russell
Encyclopedia
Martin Russell is a twice Grammy Award
-nominated recording engineer, producer, composer, and musician. He has been a core member of the music group Afro Celt Sound System
since the recording of the first album Volume 1: Sound Magic
in mid 1995. As of 2010 the recorded output of the group has so far been exclusively released by Peter Gabriel
's Real World Records
. (The next two albums, Volume 2: Release
and Volume 3: Further in Time
earned the afore-mentioned Grammy Nominations). The group recorded and released three more albums Seed, Pod
(an album of remixes and re-workings), and Volume 5: Anatomic
. Martin has written film music for several feature films including Hotel Rwanda
and the Lebanese film Bosta.
Martin commenced his musical career in 1979, joining UK band The Enid
on bass guitar and keyboards a few months after completing a BA Hons degree in music. His most notable contribution to the band's catalogue was "Once She Was", an arrangement of the folk song melody "Scarborough Fair". He remained a member until 1981, citing his increasing dissatisfaction with the whimsical vocally-based direction that the band was taking as his reason for leaving. With fellow ex-Enid keyboard player William Gilmour
he formed the instrumental rock band Craft
, who recorded an album which was released in 1984. He subsequently focussed on studio building and sound engineering for the rest of the 1980s, notably at Utopia and Swanyard Studios before designing and building his own studio in North London, England in 1991.
Sonic Innovation opened in 1992 and has been the headquarters for the majority of Martin's music production, recording, cd mastering and film music composition activities ever since.
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-nominated recording engineer, producer, composer, and musician. He has been a core member of the music group Afro Celt Sound System
Afro Celt Sound System
The Afro Celt Sound System is a musical group which fuses modern electronic dance rhythms with traditional Irish and West African music...
since the recording of the first album Volume 1: Sound Magic
Volume 1: Sound Magic
-Track listing:# "Saor " / "News from Nowhere" – 8:21# "Whirl-y-Reel 1 " – 7:21# "Inion " – 4:15# "Sure-As-Not" / "Sure-As-Knot " – 9:58# "Nil Cead Againn Dul Abhaile " – 7:20...
in mid 1995. As of 2010 the recorded output of the group has so far been exclusively released by Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's Real World Records
Real World Records
Real World Records is a record label started in 1989 by Peter Gabriel to record and produce world music.-Overview:The label grew up alongside the success of the WOMAD festivals and Peter Gabriel's exploration of music from other cultures, and helped push world music into the general public's...
. (The next two albums, Volume 2: Release
Volume 2: Release
Volume 2: Release is Afro Celt Sound System's second album, Released on January 25, 1999 by Real World Records.-Track listing:# "Release" – 7:36# "Lovers of Light" – 3:58# "Éireann" – 5:09# "Urban Aire" – 2:08# "Big Cat" – 7:43...
and Volume 3: Further in Time
Volume 3: Further in Time
Volume 3: Further in Time is the third studio album from Afro Celt Sound System, released June 19, 2001 through Real World Records.-Track listing:# "North" - 6:48# "North 2" - 2:59# "When You're Falling" - 5:14...
earned the afore-mentioned Grammy Nominations). The group recorded and released three more albums Seed, Pod
Pod (Afro Celt Sound System album)
Pod, released May 4, 2004 by Real World Records, is essentially a remix album by Afro Celt Sound System of their first three albums, Volume 1: Sound Magic, Volume 2: Release, and Volume 3: Further in Time, done by members of the band and new artists as well, including some songs previously...
(an album of remixes and re-workings), and Volume 5: Anatomic
Volume 5: Anatomic
Volume 5: Anatomic is Afro Celt Sound System's fifth album, released on October 4, 2005 by Real World Records.-Track listing:# "When I Still Needed You"# "My Secret Bliss"# "Mojave"# "Sene "# "Beautiful Rain"# "Anatomic"# "Mother"...
. Martin has written film music for several feature films including Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda is a 2004 American drama film directed by Terry George. It was adapted from a screenplay written by both George and Keir Pearson. Based on real life events which took place in Rwanda during the spring of 1994, the film stars Don Cheadle as hotelier Paul Rusesabagina, who attempts to...
and the Lebanese film Bosta.
Martin commenced his musical career in 1979, joining UK band The Enid
The Enid
The Enid is a British rock band founded in 1975 by Robert John Godfrey, Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish. Another early member was William Gilmour, who subsequently founded his own band Craft and now plays keyboards in Lickerish's band Secret Green....
on bass guitar and keyboards a few months after completing a BA Hons degree in music. His most notable contribution to the band's catalogue was "Once She Was", an arrangement of the folk song melody "Scarborough Fair". He remained a member until 1981, citing his increasing dissatisfaction with the whimsical vocally-based direction that the band was taking as his reason for leaving. With fellow ex-Enid keyboard player William Gilmour
William Gilmour
William Gilmour is a British musician and artist who was an early member and keyboardist of rock band The Enid, before leaving to form his own band: Craft. He is now a music teacher at Culloden Academy in Inverness. He is also a contributing composer and performer for Francis Lickerish's band...
he formed the instrumental rock band Craft
Craft (band)
Craft was a British rock band formed by William Gilmour after leaving The Enid, together with Grant McKay Gilmour and Martin Russell of Afro Celt Sound System....
, who recorded an album which was released in 1984. He subsequently focussed on studio building and sound engineering for the rest of the 1980s, notably at Utopia and Swanyard Studios before designing and building his own studio in North London, England in 1991.
Sonic Innovation opened in 1992 and has been the headquarters for the majority of Martin's music production, recording, cd mastering and film music composition activities ever since.